Box Score
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AKRON, Ohio – In its first game under new head coach Linda Cimino, the Binghamton women's basketball team hung tough against defending MAC champion Akron before losing 80-49 on Friday night at Rhodes Arena. The game marked the opening round of the inaugural Akron Classic.

The Bearcats started a pair of freshmen, both of whom delivered impressive debuts. Guard Imani Watkins finished with a team-high 19 points while fellow rookie point guard Jasmine Sina added nine points, seven rebounds and three assists. Sophomore forward Kristin Ross also had nine points.

Watkins' 19 points is the most ever scored by a Binghamton freshman in their debut performance during the program's 14-year NCAA Division I era. The previous mark of 18 points was set by Jasbriell Swain on Nov. 12, 2010.

In the end, however, the difference was Anita Brown. She finished with 29 points and 10 rebounds for the Zips. Sina King added 19 points and finished with a game-high 11 rebounds.

The Bearcats went on a 15-0 run, nailing five consecutive three-point field goals in the process, to go up 17-9 with 14:04 left in the first half. Watkins hit three of those shots and Sina drained the other two attempts. It took just 2:52 for Binghamton to complete their outburst.

From there, however, the Zips went on a 15-6 run to go back ahead 24-23 with 5:13 left before the break. King had nine points during that stretch. Akron went on to take a 30-27 lead at the break.

Binghamton stayed within single digits for much of the second half. It was within 40-34 at the 15:46 mark and 51-44 with 9:55 left to go.

Brown, however, netted six straight points to give Akron a 57-44 lead with 8:25 left to go. That forced Binghamton to call a timeout. The Zips went on to stretch their lead to 73-59 with 2:30 remaining before both teams emptied their benches.

Binghamton faces Delaware State on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the final day of the Akron Tournament.